Coat hanger



July 12, 193s. i A v. ROWE 2,123,259

vCOAT HANGER Filed Feb. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :N12-ENTER.

ATTYE.

July 12, 1938. A. v Rowe 2,123,259

` COAT HANGER' Filed Feb. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' i INVERTER.

78 J @Zz/m jowe I D. 1 l

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Patented July 12, 1938 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes hangers and concerns particularly animproved clothes hanger adapted for economical production andparticularly adapted for use by cleaners and dyers.

Heretofore it has been customary to form clothes hangers out of lengthsof annealed Wire bent to shape and with the ends twisted together, oneend being extended to form a hook. If such hangers are made of wirelight enough not to be exceedingly expensive, they are objectionablyflexible in use, bending readily if a heavy garment is placed upon them.'Ihe sharp ends of the wires frequently catch in the clothing and causepulls or tears. The comparatively light Wire hitherto used for economynot only lacked desirable qualities of strength and rigidity, but tendedto produce creases in the clothes hung upon it Where the cloth bent overthe thin wire.

One object of the invention is the provision of a clothes hanger which,because of the absence of sharp projecting ends, may be used withoutfear of injury to the articles hung upon it.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clothes hangeractually made of comparatively light wire but which has the advantagesVof a hanger made of heavier wire, being not only as stiff as the heavierhanger, but also protecting clothes hung upon it `against the formationof undesired creases over the wire as fully as the hanger of heavierWire would give such protection.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of aclotheshanger having means for holding a card or the like, which holdingmeans is not readily clogged by the paint or other coating materialwhich may be applied to the hanger, is always available and convenient,and holds a card or the like securely for identifying the clothes uponthe hanger, making use of the resilient properties ofthe card to producethe holding effect.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedclothes hanger which is economical to produce and yet which embodies theadvantages of more expensive hangers.

A hanger embodying the present invention and showing the manner in whichthe present invention obtains new advantages and avoids theinconveniences and disadvantages of earlier hangers is illustrated inthe accompanying two sheets of drawings hereby made a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side View of a coat hangerem-V bodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end View of the hook and shank portion of the hanger ofFigure 1 on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarge-d View in perspective of a portion of the yoke ofthe hanger on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the cross-section oi theyoke portion; Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged face View of the hook and shank portions of thehanger showing a card held in place;

Figure 5 is a view from above of the parts shown in Figure 4 on line 5-5of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a end View of the parts shown in Figure 4 on line 6 6 ofFigure 4;

Figure 7 is a face view of a modied hanger using no trouser bar;

Figure 8 is a side view of the bottom part of a hanger illustrating amodied form of the trouser bar;

Figure 9 is a plan View of the modied trouser bar shown in Figure 8 online 9 9 of Figure 8 and Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of themodied trouser bar of Figures 8 and 9 on line lil- I0 of Figure 9.

Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the drawingsand in the following f description.

The clothes hanger `of the present invention comprises a hook portion2li, a shank portion 22, a yoke 24, and a trousers bar 26. The hook 2l)and shank 22 are formed of a single piece of wire bent double to providea rounded end 28 `for the hook. The two parts of the Wire lie side byside in the hook.

Where the hook joins the shank, one wire 30 extends away from the other32 and then is bent to extend at 34 partially around the other 32. Thewire 32 at this point is straight and the two wires are spaced apart andnot in contact. Below the bend the wire 30 crosses past the wire 32 140without touching it and forms a second bend 36 in the same direction,but on the other side of the wire 32. The wire 32 about which the ben-ds34 and 3B extend is straight in the end View as shown in Figure 2. Belowa point 38 at which 45 the wires cross the wires spread and are bentdownwardly and are welded at points 40 and 42 to the yoke portion 24 ofthe hanger. The hook and shank portions 20 and 22 of the hanger may 50be formed of No. 14 gauge basic bright hard l drawn wire. With such wirethe hook and shank formed as described are amply strong. The wire mayreadily be welded and is eminently suitable for the present improvedconstruction in which twisted ends are eliminated as it is much stifferand harder than annealed wire.

The yoke 24 of the hanger is made of No. 11 gauge basic bright harddrawn wire flattened as shown in Figure 3 to provide a wire non-circularin section and wider than the original cylindrical wire from which itwas formed. The width of the wire as shown in Figure 3 is approximatelyequivalent to the width of a wire of No. 9 gauge. The round face of thewire is upward in the yoke.

At the top of the yoke 24 where the ends of the shank 22 are welded tothe yoke at points 40 and 42 the half round wire of the yoke 24 istwisted through a quarter of a turn, as indicated in Figure 1 at 44, toprovide a broad attaching surface to which the ends of the wires 30 and32 may be welded and toincrease the strength of the yoke at the point ofgreatest stress. The semi-cylindrical wire forming the yoke is bentdownwardly at each side from near the center in order to iit inside theshoulders of a coat or the like, and the ends of the wire are turnedinwardly, as at 46 and 48, providing smooth rounded corners.

The trousers bar 26 is made of No. 13 gauge basic bright hard drawnwire, butt welded at joints 5U and 52 to the turned-in ends 46 and 48 ofthe yoke 24. Such trousers bar vis amply stiff to hold the weights forwhich it is intended.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a card 54 in place between the wires of theshank 22. The card is held below the hook, in a position where it is outof the way and yet readily visible. As is clearly indicated in Figure 2the bends 34 and 3B extend about the wire 32. so that when the card 54is inserted between the wires 35 and 32 it is caused to bend, assumingthe shape shown in Figures 5 and 6. The wires of the shank are at nopoint in contact with each other so that the card may readily be slidbetween them,lthe resilience of the card rather than the resilience ofthe wires serving to hold the card securely in place. Such resilience ofthe card causes it to resist the deforming forces of the bends 34 and 36in the shank and, by pressing against the wire 30 at bends 34 and 36,and against wire 32 between the bends, to hold itself in place.

Inasmuch as the wires of the shank portion 22 are nowhere in contactwith each other, the hanger may be dipped in paint or other coatingmedium without danger of the medium sealing the space between the wiresand preventing the insertion of the card 54.

In Figure '7 a modified hanger is shown in which the trousers bar isomitted. The hook 20, shank 22, and yoke 24 are identical with those ofthe hanger shown in Figure 1. The same card holding means is used asshown in the preceding lgures and the attachment of the shank to theyoke is the same.

In Figures 8 and 9 a modied trousers bar for the hanger is shown. Theyoke 24 is the same as in the Apreviously illustrated forms of thehanger. In place of the single trousers bar 2S however a modied trousersbar 5S is provided in which a center rod or wire 58 and side bars 65 and62 provide a broad support over which trousers can hang without dangerof formation of an undesired crease. Such broad support for the trousersis illustrated in Figure 10, which shows the broad bend formed in a pairof trousers 64 or the like when hung over the three wire bar. The centerbar or wire 58 is butt welded at joints 66 and 68 to the inturned ends4G and 48 of the yoke 24 and extends from one end of the yoke to theother. The side bar 50 is spaced from the center bar 58 and is benttoward the center bar at its ends 'l0 and T2, and there welded to thecenter bar. A portion 14 near the center of the side bar is likewisebent toward the center bar and welded to the center The side bar 52' barto provide a center joint. is similar to the bar 60, being spacedfrom/the center bar 58 and having its ends 'i5 and 'I6 bent toward thecenter bar 58 inside of the ends of the bar 60 and welded to the bar 58.A portion 'i8 similar to portion 'I4 of bar Gli is bent towards the bar58 at the center and there welded beside the joint of the portion 'i4 tothe bar 58. As shown in Figures 8 and 10 the bars and 62 are on a levelimmediately below the level of the center bar 58 so that the trousers64, or other clothes hanging across the composite bar 56 curve gentlyover the bar rather than making a sharp bend.

Nowhere in the structure'herein provided is there a sharp end of a wireto catch on clothing, The wide half round wire forming the yoke 24provides a broad rest for clothes upon the hanger, avoiding theformation of undesirable creases. The No. 11 gauge wire of which theyoke is made is normally .1205 inch in diameter. A No. 9 gauge wire isnormally .1483 inch in diameter. When the No. 1l gauge wire forming theyoke of the present hanger is made half round as shown in Figure 3 it isspread so that its largest diameter is approximately the same as that ofa No. 9 gauge wire. One pound of No. 11 gauge wire contains 25.82 feet.One pound of No. 9 gauge wire contains 17.05 feet. It is thus apparentthat by the construction described and illustrated a hanger providingthe benefits of one made of No. 9 gauge Wire may be made according tothe present disclosure and will weigh less than two-thirds as much asone made of No. 9 gauge wire. The costs of materials are accordinglyreduced.

The No. 14 gauge wire used in the shank and hook contains approximately581 feet to the pound. By using such lighter wire doubled and shaped asdescribed and made of the basic bright hard drawn wire a hook isproduced equal in strength to the hook of heavier wire, providingadvantages impossible to obtain in the previous constructions, andallowing substantial savings as compared with the costs of production ofother hangers. The weight of the hook and shank portions is less than ifone wire of No. 11 gauge had been used, one pound of the lattercontaining 25.82 feet, as compared with the 58 feet in the pound of No.14 gauge wire.

As previously stated the single trousers bar 26 is made of No. 13 gaugewire. The composite trousers bar shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 may bemade of No. 14 or 141/2 gauge wire. By cornbining the three sizes ofwire as described in connection with the single trousers barconstruction, Fig. 1, and using them in the manner stated it is possibleto manufacture as stiff and strong a hanger as when heavier materialsare used, and yet containing between a fth to a quarter less rawmaterial. A saving of over 20% has been experienced. As a result betterand lighter hangers having added advantages can be supplied to cleaners,dyers, and the like for a cost less than that of the hangers heretoforeavailable.

Heretofore users of wire hangers have found it necessary, when it wasdesired to increase the width of the trousers bar, to employ someauxiliary device. For example, in some instances, cleaners and Idyersapply a section of cardboard to the trousers bar for the purpose ofproviding a less abrupt rest for the clothes. Obviously this entailsadditional expense and presents a decided inconvenience both to thecleaner and the customer. In` instances where the user requires such aconstruction the arrangement which I have disclosed in Figures 8 to 10inclusive will fill the need much more satisfactorily than the abovementioned attached cardboard. In other words, the increased width of thetrousers bar presented by the plurality of wir in spaced relation not oning of creases in cloth a unitar i n, but forms ger as distinguishedcost of manufacturing and subsequently applying the auxiliary rest orcardboard to the conventional hanger is considered it will be found thatmy improved arrangement can be manufactured and sold at no greater costto the user. It will be apparent, therefore, from the foregoing, thatthe user of my improved hangers may keep in stock hangers equipped withboth types of trousers bars and thus use them as the occasion demands.

From the foregoing it will also be apparent that my inventioncontemplates the provision of at least three different forms of hangers,namely the type shown in Figure l wherein a single trousers bar isprovided, the type shown in Figure 7 wherein the trousers bar iseliminated and which probably finds its most extensive application forwomens apparel, and the third type shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusivewherein the trousers bar of increased width is. shown. The arrangementdisclosed in Figure 1 undoubtedly satisfies most requirements whereasthe other modifications meet special requirements in the field.

Obviously the term card, as used in the specification and claimsincludes any sheet of material which is adapted to be inserted anddeformed by the bends 34 and 36. In other words, sheet material adaptedto be held against said bends by its own resiliency.

The invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoingdescription, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in theform, construction and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the invention, which is not to be considered as limitedto the specific embodiments described but only by the claims heretoappended.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States he orme oos y mounted cardboard. When thel broadhorizontal surface, a portion of saidwireI being twisted to bring saidbroadfsurfacethereon into a plane ngulaijlydispcsed from thehorizontalandV hanger supporting portlon welded* olthe" road surface atthe twistedporl 1on""`of said wire section.

3. A hanger comprising a yoke section of wire of non-circularcross-section having a relatively .broad horizontal surface, a portionof said wire being twisted at the top of the yoke to bring said broadsurface thereon into a substantially vertical plane, and a hangersupporting section welded to said broad surface at the twisted portionat the top of the yoke.

4. A hanger comprising a yoke section of wireof non-circularcross-section having a relatively broad curved supporting surface and arelatively iiat surface, a portion of said wire being twisted at thetopof the yoke to bring said ilat surface into a plane angularlydisposed from the horizontal, and a hanger supporting portion welded tothe flat surface at the said twisted portion of the wire section.

5. In a hanger comprising a yoke and a garment supportingrest supportedby the yoke, a

combined hook and card holder comprising a reversely bent piece of wireformed into a hook at the bent end and having two coextensive portionsof wire projected downwardly therefrom, one portion being bent past theline of the other on each side of the other and unsecured to each other,said wires being spaced apart at all points and being integralcontinuations of the hook, the ends oi said portions being attached atspaced points to the yoke and forming attaching means between the hookand the yoke.

6. A hanger comprising a hook, a shank extending from the hook, saidhook and shank being formed o-f a single piece of relatively small gaugewire doubled upon itself to provide a rounded point for the hook, thefree ends of the wire extending downwardly in spaced, substantiallyvertical` relationship and unsecured to each other, and a yoke ofrelatively heavy gauge wire having a single, integral, transverselyexten-ding bar and supporting a trousers bar extending between andsecured to the ends of the yoke, said free ends of the wire being weldedto the yoke bar at spaced points adjacent the central portion of thebar.

ALVIN V. ROWE.

